Do dogs eat their babies?

Other times, when puppies act sickly or when they have something wrong (which we as owners may not be able to tell), mothers may purposely kill them so they can focus on the healthier ones. It may start with the mother pushing the puppy away from her. At times, the mother may even eat the puppy. read more

Some dogs, especially terriers and terrier mixes, have a rodent-killing heritage. Although any dam can cannibalize her pups, these dogs may instinctively be compelled to eat their puppies if they fail to recognize them as their own. read more

She may have assumed the puppies had been damaged or contaminated in some way, and therefore, their destruction was a way of putting them ''out of their misery." Lack of Recognition. Some dogs, especially new mothers, might not recognize their offspring as their own. This is especially true for dogs who had a cesarean section. read more

Dogs eat their newborn puppies when they do not recognize the puppies as their own, because the pain from mastitis and suckling provokes aggression, or because a puppy is stillborn or unhealthy. However, cannibalism rarely occurs among canines. read more